On my dresser, to greet me in the morning and send me off to sleep.
May 24, 2014 9:40 am
On my dresser, to greet me in the morning and send me off to sleep.
The fall day had dawned gray when we jumped in the car and drove west from Syracuse.
I wore my new suit pants but carefully arranged the jacket on a hanger in the back. She changed into her beautiful dress in the bathroom of a Kentucky Fried Chicken down the block from City Hall, earning gasps and claps from lunchtime patrons upon her emergence back into the lobby.
The city clerk heard our vows. His assistant not only was our witness, but our photographer, too. It was very romantic.
The best day of my life was when we eloped to Niagara Falls, N.Y., and the beloved woman in my life became my dear wife Karen.
We sat in the car out front afterward and called our kids on our cell phones with the news. Daryl and Elisabeth both responded with happiness and a bit of “what-took-you-so-long.”
We drove across the border for a one-night honeymoon on the Canadian side. The Falls are much more beautiful from their view, and so is their city. I promised Karen while pulling up that I’d be cool to the guard, but immediately blurted to his “why are …” question, “We just got married!” He smiled, handed me our passports, and waved us through.
We walked the town, admired a Wonder of the World, ate dinner at a quaint local restaurant by the name of The Love Boat — yes, that was a find that made me grin — and appreciated a fine DoubleTree resort hotel.
This was The Best Day of My Life, beating out a whole bunch of Great Days in My Life.
Thanks to Mommyx4boys for issuing this writing challenge.
Posted by markbialczak
Categories: Life
Tags: Best Day Challenge, Family history, Mommyx4Boys, Niagara Falls
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Awww…. What a lovely story! So romantic! Thanks for sharing. 🙂
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By rachelcarrera on May 26, 2014 at 8:19 pm
Pretty good idea we had, wasn’t it?
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By markbialczak on May 26, 2014 at 9:09 pm
Yes, very! I love the Canadian side of the falls, too. So much to do and see there. 🙂
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By rachelcarrera on May 26, 2014 at 10:07 pm
Just sweet and lovely.
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By peachyteachy on May 25, 2014 at 5:50 pm
Why thank you so much, peachyteachy!
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By markbialczak on May 25, 2014 at 5:53 pm
This is so touching, Mark! I love this story. You guys could not possibly be any more adorable. That Mrs. B must be some kind of special! Enjoy the beautiful long weekend. 🙂 🙂
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By brickhousechick on May 25, 2014 at 4:10 pm
Thanks so much, Mrs. B. That decision to elope to Niagara Falls worked very well for us, indeed! I hope you and Mr. B and daughter B are having a fine holiday weekend. 🙂 The last before her graduation, right?!
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By markbialczak on May 25, 2014 at 5:45 pm
Great best day!
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By lundygirl on May 25, 2014 at 9:36 am
Thank you, Rachel. It worked out for us so wonderfully!
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By markbialczak on May 25, 2014 at 9:46 am
I can picture it perfectly and your feelings for each other shine right through the pictures. Just beautiful my friend!
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By Sandra on May 24, 2014 at 11:38 pm
Thank you, Sandra. Eloping was the way to go for us.
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By markbialczak on May 25, 2014 at 7:26 am
how wonderful and what lovely pictures to greet you each new day. this is a fantastic memory and i can see why it is your favorite day. beautiful post, mark.
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By ksbeth on May 24, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Thank you, Beth. The photos are inserted into the top of the wedding gift engraved dresser box given to me by Karen that day. A treasure all the way around.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 3:53 pm
Awwwww Mark, I love the romance in this. THe happiness of the day, the clapping in KFC, the smiling guard and the most important….. The commitment of that greatest day. 🙂 Thank you for sharing it.
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By Chatter Master on May 24, 2014 at 12:56 pm
You are welcome, Colleen, and now you are one of our treasured guests who took the trip with us in the wayback! Thank you.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 1:05 pm
I love these trips.
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By Chatter Master on May 25, 2014 at 6:54 pm
Wonderful post, Mark. Love is in the air, and — for you — it still resonates. As always, my best to you and Karen.
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By Christopher S. Malone on May 24, 2014 at 12:50 pm
My best day out of many great days, Chris. I hope you are piling some up this weekend, too, my friend. Thank you.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 12:53 pm
Any time the Love Boat can be a part of your wedding day, you know your future holds great things in store. I hope they said, “Come aboard, we’re expecting you” when you walked up to the host stand. But seriously, this must be the day of wedding days! My cousin’s anniversary is today, as well as some church friends, so 5/24 must have a special power. Congrats to you both! Is it 9 yrs now or still 8?
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By kerbey on May 24, 2014 at 12:26 pm
We were married on a fall day, so all the other lucky folks in your life can bask in the glory of this beautiful 5/24.
Karen and I just shared a great chuckle from your “come aboard” comment, Kerbey, so thank you so much for you wise humor.
When we went back for anniversary five last fall, The Love Boat was closed! We were crushed, but went to eat at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. I had a Cheeseburger in Paradise and a Molson that they called a cheaper domestic beer, and Karen had a Margarita the size of her head, and we were just fine.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 12:58 pm
Oh, I’m confused. I thought it was your anniversary today. I guess I can’t read correctly.
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By kerbey on May 24, 2014 at 1:10 pm
I wrote the story in reaction to a direct request to participate in a “Best Day of My Life” writing challenge, Kerbey.
I understand your confusion.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 1:12 pm
There it is in the first sentence. Yikes. Fall day.
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By kerbey on May 24, 2014 at 1:11 pm
My fault. I buried it in the sixth and seventh words, Kerbey! 🙂
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 1:23 pm
Lovely post Mark..
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By Leyla on May 24, 2014 at 12:25 pm
Thank you, Leyla!
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 12:59 pm
My first wife and I got married in Jaffa, Israel (1979). The ceremony was performed by a Baptist Minister from Oklahoma in a Presbyterian Church which was maintained by Missionaries from Sweden.
There were two witnesses: (Co-workers of ours from Sinai Field Mission).
Twenty minutes before the ceremony, My soon-to-be-bride and I were hitting all the jewelry stores on Dizengoff Street looking for wedding rings. Could not find ones that fit.
The clerks always had the same response:
“No problem; I can have it resized and you may pick it up tomorrow.”
We anxiously explained, “But we are getting married in just a few minutes.”
Jewish weddings are a great big hairy deal, so naturally, we were met with gasps of shocked amazement when we announced this while standing in stores in Tel Aviv.
We finally, at the last minute and the last shoppe, settled for two plain gold bands (which did not fit)
Then we got hitched.
My bride was wearing a black dress and I was in blue jeans.
I gave the Okie preacher fifty bucks.
The marriage didn’t stick, but we remain friends to this day.
Very lovely Story Mark.
I truly enjoyed it.
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By LAMarcom on May 24, 2014 at 11:56 am
And thank you for sharing your story here, too, Lance. Did you get to step on glasses after the I do’s to keep the Jewish tradition? I was best man in a Jewish tradition wedding and the rabbi winked at me when I saw that he was putting light bulbs under the cloth instead of glasses, for better sound effect.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 1:08 pm
Light bulbs!? Hilarious!
No, no glasses were harmed in the making of my wedding.
(I ain’t Jewish, doancha know…)
But I love Jewish Comics as you also well know: Lenny and Sarah especially!
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By LAMarcom on May 24, 2014 at 1:47 pm
I do know.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 2:12 pm
Aw! How sweet.
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By silentlyheardonce on May 24, 2014 at 11:28 am
It was the best day, Kim. Thank you.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:47 am
Your a lucky man
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By mikefredparker on May 24, 2014 at 11:15 am
I agree. Thank you, sir.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:48 am
Lovely story Mark! Sounds like a truly special day…and very romantic!
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By Ali Isaac on May 24, 2014 at 11:11 am
It was a sweet day for my forever memory book, Ali. Thank you.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:49 am
What a lovely story, Mark! Thanks for sharing about your special day and your very special wife. Well done, my friend. 🙂
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By ermigal on May 24, 2014 at 11:07 am
Sometimes a challenge like this can draw out the best in me, Ermi. Thank you.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:50 am
Aww what a sweet memory. I take it you both were together for quite some time before you married?
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By dianasschwenk on May 24, 2014 at 11:05 am
We picked our wedding day to be on the fifth anniversary of date No. 1, Diana.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:50 am
That is so awesome!
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By dianasschwenk on May 24, 2014 at 11:51 am
I shall never forget our anniversary date!
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 11:52 am
Aww so sweet. I love it.
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By rebecca2000 on May 24, 2014 at 10:40 am
Thank you, Rebecca. Almost similar to your Italian wine and statue story today? 🙂
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 10:53 am
LOL I think not 😉 Maybe my post before that though. 🙂
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By rebecca2000 on May 24, 2014 at 10:54 am
I love this post, Mark. Thank you.
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By Ann Koplow on May 24, 2014 at 10:37 am
You’re welcome, Ann. Always fun to recall this best day.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 10:40 am
Cool story Mark.
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By Paul on May 24, 2014 at 10:02 am
Thank you, Paul. My best day split between our two nations.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 10:11 am
Reblogged and said thanks for accepting this challenge what a sweet story you and wife have.
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By mommyx4boys on May 24, 2014 at 9:52 am
Reblogged this on trying to make things right and commented:
Thanks for accepting the challenge. What a sweet story yoy and your wife have.
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By mommyx4boys on May 24, 2014 at 9:51 am
Lovely memories you will always have.
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By laflor5233 on May 24, 2014 at 9:50 am
I am so glad for this day, Dora.
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By markbialczak on May 24, 2014 at 9:52 am